A methodological framework for improving air quality monitoring network layout. Applications to environment management

This work aims to provide a methodology framework which allows to improve the performance and efficiency of an air quality monitoring network (AQMN). It requires to be constituted by a minimum and reliable number of measurement sites. Nevertheless, the AQMN efficiency should be assessed over time, as a consequence of the possible emergence of new emission sources of air pollutants, which could lead to variations on their spatial distribution within the target area. PM₁₀ particles data monitored by the Community of Madrid's (Spain) AQMN between 2008 and 2017 were used to develop a methodology to optimize the AQMN performance. The annual spatial distribution of average PM₁₀ levels over the studied period monitored by all current stations vs those more representative was provided by a geographic information system (GIS), and the percentage of similarity between both postulates was quantified using simple linear regression (> 95%). As one innovative tool of this study, the practical application of the proposed methodology was validated using PM₁₀ particles data measured by AQMN during 2007 and 2018, reaching a similitude degree higher than 95%. The influence of temporal variation on the proposed methodological framework was around 20%.The proposed methodology sets criteria for identifying non-redundant stations within AQMN, it is also able to appropriately assess the representativeness of fixed monitoring sites within an AQMN and it complements the guidelines set by European legislation on air pollutants monitoring at fixed stations, which could help to tackle efforts to improve the air quality management.     

Bathymetric and core analysis of the Latrobe River delta to assist in catchment management

In this study, an analysis of bathymetric surveys of the Latrobe River delta conducted in 1879 and 1992 is combined with pollen analysis of cores from the delta sediments to assist in setting management priorities for the Latrobe River catchment, a 5000 km²catchment in the south-east of Australia. Reconstructed delta surfaces from 1879 (not long after European settlement of the area) and 1992 were compared to quantify areas of net erosion and deposition. These were compared to post-European deposition depths determined by the presence of exotic pollen species in the sediment. The results indicated that: (1) average sedimentation rates in the receiving lake for the Latrobe River are less than 1 mm yr⁻¹; (2) the deposited material is fine with no material considered as bedload; and (3) the fine nature of the deposited material makes it suitable for carrying a large load of nutrients. These results created a shift in management focus from concern over sedimentation and erosion in general to a greater emphasis on nutrients. While the integrated management of catchments is implicitly contemporary, it should always be performed within a historical context. Failure to do this can lead to management priorities that do not concur with the facts of catchment response and can therefore result in inefficient resource allocation. The use of studies which provide a historical perspective on the problem are therefore critical.     

Improving flood risk analysis for effectively supporting the implementation of flood risk management plans: The case study of “Serio” Valley

The EU Flood Directive 2007/60 requires the assessment and delineation of flood risk maps. The latter should provide the required knowledge for the development of flood risk management plans (FRMPs), that should deal with all features of risk management: e.g. preparation, protection and prevention, comprising also the phase of the flood forecasting and warning systems, in addition to the emergency management. The risk maps, delineated through the expert-drive qualitative (EDQ) approach currently adopted in several European countries, such as Italy, fail to represent the information base that needed by stakeholders for selecting the suitable objectives and designing the appropriate mitigation actions for flood risk management. In the EDQ approach, the flood hazard and the potential damage degree maps are combined by means of a matrix to obtain a qualitative flood risk map. However, the performance of the risk matrix is not usually rigorous validated and, therefore, presents limits, such as subjective and not careful explained interpretation of rating and poor resolution, (due to range compression), that can produce errors in comparative ranking of risk areas. In this context, this paper proposes the FloodRisk approach that aims to improve the efficacy of flood risk map overcoming the limits of EDQ approach in supplying the knowledge base that allow to analyze costs and benefits of potential mitigation measures. However, the proposed approach is also able to involve the citizens in the flood management process, enhancing their awareness. An application of FloodRisk procedure is showed on a pilot case in “Serio” Valley, (North Italy), and its strengths and limits, in terms of additional efforts required in its application compared with EDQ procedure, have been discussed focusing on the efficacy of the outcomes provided for the fulfillment of FRMPs. The results have demonstrated the ability of FloodRisk, respect to EDQ approach, to distinguish successfully different levels of vulnerability of exposure elements, thanks to the use of asset value and depth-damage curves, that allows a suitably evaluation of the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies. In this light, a successfully application of a cost-benefit analysis of FloodRisk approach on a portfolio of alternative mitigation actions, (i.e. structural and non-structural measurements), has been demonstrated on the proposed study case. However, FloodRisk requires additional information, e.g. water depths assessment and assets values, and it needs a proper analysis and communication of the uncertainty in its results. Although they still exist limitations that impede, at present, the FloodRisk application without an adequate understanding and a critical consideration of the hazard, exposure and vulnerability characteristics of the study area, considerations are supplied on how the utilization of this approach can be maximized in the light of the next flood risk maps revision due by December 2019.     

VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS IN WATERSHED PROTECTION EXPERIENCES FROM COSTA RICA

This article analyses the application of voluntary environmental agreements (VEAs) in watershed protection in Costa Rica. Next to an involvement of private energy firms, the Costa Rican state, and farmers, the participation of NGOs is a remarkable feature. From an analysis of these multi-stakeholder arrangements, it is concluded that these arrangements bring benefits to all actors involved. VEAs have been able to grow as powerful policy instruments, generating positive environmental effects. Essential is their embedded ness in a broader set of environmental policies, especially related to forest management Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

石英砂加工企业职业病危害防护措施与管理对策研究

通过对安徽省石英砂加工企业生产工艺流程和现场进行调查分析,得出矽尘和噪声是两种最主要的职业病危害因素,发现石英砂生产企业矽尘和噪声危害十分严重,生产作业现场未配备任何防护装备和个人防护用品,作业人员接触职业病危害的比率非常高。分析了石英砂加工企业在职业病危害防护与管理方面的欠缺与不足,提出了针对矽尘和噪声危害因素的具体工程防护措施与管理对策,从源头控制和消除职业病危害,保护劳动者的生命安全与健康。     

施工现场安全生产人员聚集性活动安全专项管理

施工安全生产风险是由风险事件概率和风险后果2个要素决定的。从施工安全风险后果,即潜在安全风险后果影响的人员角度,介绍了施工现场安全生产人员聚集性活动安全专项的系统管理方法。施工安全风险跟踪监控实践,表明该方法对促进安全生产绩效具有重要意义。     

航空公司安全信息管理水平评价方法研究

分析了目前我国航空公司在安全信息管理和安全信息管理水平综合评价方面存在的问题.从航空公司安全信息管理的实际工作出发,结合安全管理体系(SMS)中对于安全信息管理的要求,建立了航空公司安全信息管理水平评价指标体系,并针对每个评价指标建立了4个等级的评价标准.基于主成分分析方法建立了航空公司安全信息管理水平综合评价模型.按照建立的指标体系和评价标准对5家航空公司进行了安全信息管理水平评分,并以此数据为基础,利用建立的综合评价模型对5家公司的安全信息管理水平进行了综合评价和排序,针对评价结果对各航空公司提高安全信息管理水平提出了具体的建议措施.     

高温职业危害风险分级与分级管理研究

为进一步研究高温作业职业危害风险强度,探讨高温作业环境条件下环境温度与劳动强度对劳动者健康的影响及其联合作用。采用高温环境模拟仓实验与建筑行业露天高温作业现场调研和测试相结合的方法,以高温环境和心血管体能负荷值(%CVL)作为高温作业危害风险分级的主要参照指标。提出了高温作业职业危害风险分级的技术方法和针对不同程度高温职业危害风险管理措施的具体建议,为保护高温作业劳动者安全与健康提供科学依据。